Man Police Sought For Assault On Child In Old Saybrook Arrested

Crysta Dorothy was charged with risk of injury to a minor, making a false statement to police, interfering with an officer and two counts of conspiracy. Police are seeking her boyfriend, Keith Loftus.

Crysta Dorothy was charged with risk of injury to a minor, making a false statement to police, interfering with an officer and two counts of conspiracy. Police are seeking her boyfriend, Keith Loftus. (Courtesy of Old Saybrook Police Department)

KELLY GLISTA

The man sought by police for allegedly inflicting life-threatening injuries to his ex-girlfriend's 7-month-old child was arrested Thursday night.

Keith Loftus, 31, was arrested just after 7 p.m. while trying to break into cars at the YMCA, police said. He was charged with first-degree assault, risk of injury to a minor, interfering with an officer and two counts of conspiracy.

The search for Loftus began after the baby was taken to Yale-New Hospital on Sept. 16 and the staff recognized injuries as consistent with "shaken baby syndrome." They notified the state Department of Children and Families, who notified the police.

The child's mother, Crystal Dorothy, 26, of Old Saybrook, turned herself in to police. The child survived and is in special foster care.

Dorothy was charged with risk of injury to a minor, making a false statement to police, interfering with an officer and two counts of conspiracy. She was arraigned Tuesday at Middletown Superior Court and bail was set at $25,000. She posted bail and was released.

Loftus is being held on $150,000 bail, police said. He also has been charged with violation of probation and faces $150,000 bail on that warrant, according to police. Loftus was on probation for third-degree burglary, first-degree larceny and theft of a firearm, police said.